Hungary gross wages up annual 0.9pc

Budapest, March 21 (MTI) – Overall average gross wages in Hungary increased by an annual 0.9 percent in January, but they rose by 6.0 percent if fostered workers, who earn less than the minimum wage, were excluded, data published by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Friday showed.

The number of fostered workers rose nearly sixfold, to 198,400 in January from just 33,600 in the same month a year earlier. About half of them participated in the winter months in education programmes introduced late last year.

The average gross monthly wage was 226,648 forints (EUR 727) in January. Excluding fostered workers, the average gross wage came to 239,009 forints.

Fostered workers employed full time earned 81,562 forints gross a month, 3.5 percent more than a year earlier.